Elephant in the Dark is an amusing retelling of a poem by the thirteenth-century Persian poet Jalal al-Din Rumi. When a merchant returns to his village with a mysterious creature procured in India (an elephant), the villagers are impatient to see what it is. One by one, they creep into the dark barn and emerge declaring that they know exactly what it is based on contact with one part of the strange beast: a slithery nose, a tall sturdy leg, a floppy fan-like ear. Amid wildly differing guesses, the villagers argue over the animal's identity late into the night. Eventually, they learn the truth (which the reader knew all along), and it becomes clear that partial knowledge is a dangerous thing. Colorfully illustrated in the style of Persian miniatures, the book's depictions of the villagers approach caricature at times, as often occurs in Western renderings of Eastern cultures, and may merit classroom discussion. Pair with Ed Young's Seven Blind Mice (1992) for an alternate take on this folktale.

When merchant Ahmad brings a mysterious creature to his village, curious villagers climb through a window in his barn, each touching just a part of the creature and leaping to conclusions about what it might be. Yelchin's paintings balance the characteristic Persian style of repetitive patterns with lots of open space. The book should provide opportunities for discussions about perception.

K-2 A merchant has brought a strange creature from India to a Persian village, and the locals are curious. The merchant puts off his neighbors because it is too dark in the barn and he wants to sleep. The villagers sneak in one at a time to figure out what is inside. Each one feels a different part of the animal, coming to a different conclusion about its identity. They are so busy squabbling among themselves that they miss seeing the elephant the next morning as the merchant leads it to the river. The villagers never see the wonder of the elephant because "they each knew only a small piece of the truth." This picture book is based on a poem by Rumi. Yelchin's illustrations are bright and colorful and filled with expressive faces. They take the story to an imaginative level. The story is told simply but with a meaningful impact. VERDICT Young readers and teachers who enjoy folktales with an entertaining moral will appreciate this story's message. Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH